Early Times ReportJammu, Mar 31: Pointing towards the pathetic plight of MGNERGA workers having been rendered unemployed due to the suspension of all works under the said scheme, Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman-JKNPP & former Minister today called upon the govt. to release their wages and other dues so as to save them from starvation. He said that lakhs of such workers in J&K were dependent upon their earnings under the said scheme which envisaged assured income to the said workers. The job guarantee scheme under MGNREGA further provided that if the govt. failed to provide employment to the said workers for the period prescribed under the Act, the registered workers shall be entitled to receive their wages and the employers shall be duty bound to compensate them. The govt. needed to honour the MGNREGA Act as has been done by several other States like UP where the incumbent govts have released the wages of the labourers so as to save them as well as their families from starvation. Pointing towards the shabby plight of all other Work Force in general, Mr. Singh called upon the govt. to come to their rescue and fulfill the obligations of a welfare State in conformity with the Directive Principles of State policy. "The workers have been caught between the devil and the deep sea. On one hand, they are exposed to the threat of Corona Virus and on the other hand, poverty and starvation stare them in the face. If they survive Corona threat, they could die of hunger. And it is in this context that the govt. needs to address their pitiable plight" said Singh. He further called for addressing the concerns of poor workers of J&K trapped in other states in extreme hostile conditions and suffering for want of proper care and attention. Several are languishing on the roads with none to listen to their shrill cries. He said that around 10,000 workers of Ramnagar had been stranded in other States in adverse conditions without being provided proper food and shelter thereby exposing them to huge risk. The J&K Govt. needed to immediately act to save their lives and ensure their safe evacuation.